Card tray



Oct. 4, 1932.

y G. H. DAwsoN CARD TRAY Filed April 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l oct. 4, 1932. Q H DAWSON 1,880,863

CARD TRAY Filed April 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z6 22 20\I0 zz Illllllllll VE 'UR -Goy/ @a M80/z,

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Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED sTAriis ,seater PATENT ori-"ics GEORGE H. DAWSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR T0 WILSON-JONES COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION MASSACHUSETTS CARD TRAY Application led April 12,

This invention relates to a card-holding tray of the type in which the cards are filed so that each card overlaps the one back of it, each card being removably secured to an individual holder, the ends of which are confined in aligned vertical slots, thereby securing the cards against longitudinal shifting movement but permitting them to be vertically shifted. The invention concerns itself primarily with means for normally preventing the removal of the holders from the vertical slots, said means being adjustable in order that the cards and holders may be readily elevated above the vertical slots for adding additional holders, for replacement, or when it is desired to regroup the same.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of. parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed'out and defined in the appended claims. Y

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention, and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a card-holding tray involving this invention;

' Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the card-holding tray showing the shift bars in normal position for preventing removal of the holders from the tray, taken substantially upon line II-II of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a. view similar to Figure 2 except that the shift bars are shown in raised position to permit the addition of new holders, or the elevation of the holders for regrouping purposes; A

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view in section to illustrate certain features, taken substantially on line IV-IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal andvertical sectional view ofthe tray and a cabinet drawer in which it is shown positioned;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary interior elevational View showing means for operating the shift bar,` taken substantially upon the line VI-VI of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan view looking from below, showing means for operating the shift bar, taken 1930. Serial N0. 443,683. Y Y substantially upon line l.VII-VII, of Figure 6; y

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the manner of mounting the shift bar, taken substantially `on line 1 VIII-V111 of Figure 2.

The tray which embodies this invention'v consists of a sheet of metal formed to providev apart to receive the ends of the card holders therebetween, are parts of U-shaped plate members 8 which are secured to the bottom and the inner surface of the side member2 of the tray, one adjacent each side.

A shift bar 10 lies against the outer surface of each side member 2 ofthe tray, and each is provided with an inwardly extending portion 11 which overhangs the top edge of the side member and terminates in a downwardly extending flange 12 having its lower edge adjacent the upper portion of the uprights 7; l/Vhen the bars 10 are in their lowered position as shown in Figure 2, the portions 11 thereof will rest upon the upper edges of the side member 2, and the lowerV edges of the flanges 12 willbe so closely adjacent the tops of the uprights? as to prevent the vescape or removal of a card holder 6. Each shift bar is provided with a vplurality of rearwardly and upwardly extending cam slots 13 having circular end portions so formed as to provide dwells for rollers 14 which are secured within the slots by means of rivet-like studs 15 which extend through the side members 2 of the trayk and the plate members 8 and serve to hold the same` together. The rivet-like studs 15 are provided with journal portions 18 which serve as bearing surfaces for the rollers 14. These rivets termina-te at their outer ends inlarge flat heads 19 which overlap the edges of the slot and hold the shift bars against the outer surface of the side members 2.V Itis to be noted,

upright n iembers 7, as shcwn in Figure 3,V

thereby permitting the removal of the card holders 6 from the tray, or a regroupng i thereof. Y

In order to facilitate 'tlie movement ofthe f shift bars, a manually operablemeclianism is provided at the forward end of the tray for each bar by means of which each bar may be independently shifted, when desired. Each mechanism comprises a stud which' is securely fastened in a shift bar l0, as shown in Figure 7; said stnd'extending inwardly throughan inclined slot 2l which is formed in the side member 27 of the tray. A collar "22 is formed upon the stud where it passes through said slot. Itis contemplated that if so desired, instead of providing a collar, a

roller may be substituted therefor iny order that the stud maybe more easily moved along the slot. The inner end 23 of each stud forms a pivoted mounting'for la lever 24 which is provided with a. finger portion25 at its outer end, saidlever being of sufficient length to bring the finger Vportion into a convenient position at the forward end of the tray. A leaf spring 26 is secured beneath each finger lever on the bottom of the tray in such a manner that the lever and finger portion will at all times be forced upwardly. rlhe levers 24 and their pivotal mounting are contained within channel-like members 27 which are formed either as continuations of the plate members 8 and the uprights 7, or, as illustrated, of separate pieces of sheet-metal. The inner vside of each channel-.shaped member is cut away at its forward end so as to form a downwardly extending projection 28 having a` forward vertical edge 29 which will latch the lever against rearward movement ynntil the same is pressed downwardly to a positionV where the Vfinger portion which is inwardly offset will pass by said projection. Vhen the lever has been swung down and moved rearwardly past the projection 28, the collar 22 and stud 20 will be moved from the lower end of the slot 21 to the upper end thereof. In this latter position the lever will have moved into a recess 30 which is formedl at the rear ofthe projection 2S, and the shift bar will have been raised and latched in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6.

In Figure 5 the tray is Vshown mounted in a cabinet drawer'fl having ya combined hand hold and label holder 5. The rear end of this cabinet drawer may be provided with a stop 31 to limit the rearward movement of the tray.- Y f Normally the shift bars will be in their lowered positions as shown in Figure 2 and will lock the cards and cardholders against removaly from the tray. When it is desired to Vremove a card holder the levers `24 are first pushed downwardly and then rearwardly to the position show-n in dotted lines in.` Figure 6, thereby raising the shift bars to card holder 'within the tray when the same.

is being moved or carried from one place to another; it being a simple matter to move the shift bars by meansof the novel operating mechanism to a position wherein the card holders may be easily withdrawn from the tray and regroup'ed or .additional cards added.

' I amv aware that many changes may be i," made and numerous details of construction maybe varied through a wide range witbout departing from the principles of this invvention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limj iting. the patent granted hereon otherwise -"7 than necessitated by the prior art,

I claim as my invention: Y Y l. A' card index tray comprising means for removably' supporting card holders therein, a shift bar connected to each side of if.

said tray for vertical movement relative thereto, said bars normally locking card holders within said tray, and means for moving said bars from normal said card holders.

2.l In a card index tray, a side member having a rearwardly and upwardly extending slot therein, a shift bar, means for connecting said bar to said member for movement in a plane parallel thereto, a stud carried by said bar extending through said slot, a roller j ournalled on said stud and confined within said slot, and means connected to said stud for manually moving said stud and roller in said slot whereby said shift bar is moved as set forth. Y i

3. In a card index tray having side members,spaced uprights within said tray, cardholding members mounted between said up- Y rights, a shift bar connected -to each side member for movement to a position lfor preventing removal of said card holders from said tray and to a position for releasing said card holders, and means operable to move said bar 1;;

for the purpose set forth.

position to release 4:. In combination, a card tray having side members, spaced uprightswithin said tray, card-holding members mounted between said uprights, a shift bar arranged adjacent each side member, said bar having inclined slots therein, studs secured to each side member, and a roller carried by each stud, said roller lying within one of said slots.

5. In combination, a card tray having side members, spaced uprights within said tray,

card-holding members mounted between said uprights, a shift bar arranged adjacent each side member, each bar having inclined slots therein, studs secured to each side member, a roller carried by each stud, said roller lying within one of said slots, and means for shifting saidbar upon said rollers. A 6. ln a card index tray, a side member having a rearwardly and upwardly extending slot therein, a shift bar, means for connecting said bar to said member for movement in a plane parallel thereto, a stud carried by said bar extending through said slot, a roller journaled on said stud and confined within said slot, a lever having a thumb rest pivotally connected to said stud for shifting said bar, and means for latching said lever after said bar is shifted.

7. In a card index tray having side walls, spaced partition members adjacent said walls for forming card holder compartments, a shift bar having an inwardly extending iiange adjustably mounted upon each side wall, and means for adjusting said bars to lock or release said card holders with respect to said compartments.

8. In a card index tray having side walls, spaced partition members adjacent said walls for forming card-holder compartments, a card-holder locking bar adjustably mounted upon each side wall and having means cooperating with the tops of said partition members to prevent the removal of the card holders from said compartments and means for moving said bars to prevent the removal of said card holders from said compartments.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

GEORGE H. DAVSON. 

